Nella Larsen's Passing

The concept of the uncanny can be a difficult one to comprehend; this is why Freud begins his essay with an analysis of the different definitions of the uncanny in various languages. Ultimately Freud rests that the German terms “heimlich” and “unheimlich” best match the definition of the uncanny because it is translated as familiar and unfamiliar. The uncanny can be defined as something that creates a feeling of familiarity but also unfamiliarity, and this unfamiliarity is what is fearful to the individual. Freud’s essay “The Uncanny” can be related to the field of literary criticism because he explains how the feeling of the uncanny relates to the author’s attempt to convey a certain response from their audience. This type of analysis bridges Freud’s work and Larsen’s novel in order to re-examine and debate certain moments in Passing that after a second look can be defined as uncanny. Passing is a short novel that centers on two mixed women who reunite in their adult lives and describe how they are trying to “pass” as white to society. Clare’s motive for passing is so that she can live a luxurious life with her white husband who is extremely racist. Whereas Irene is trying to pass when she goes out in society, her husband Brian is fully aware and is a black doctor. Irene and Clare’s childhoods and pasts are vague which allows there to be room for psychoanalysis, particularly with the character Irene and her feelings towards Clare. Through psychoanalytical criticism of the uncanny moments that occur in Larsen’s novel Passing build tension between Irene and Clare and it is argued that Irene pushed Clare from the window that caused her death in order for Irene to keep her secure life with her husband.

The first sense of an uncanny...

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...bove ideas give merit to the argument that Irene caused Clare’s death. Since the first uncanny moment provides the base for the underlying resentment towards Clare, and is projected by Irene’s action to try and ignore Clare. When Clare and Irene discuss the act of “passing” there is a sense of jealousy that Irene has for Clare and her material and social gains. The moment when Jack runs into Irene proves to be a moment when Irene’s subconscious desires for Clare to be removed from her life come forward. Therefore by using Freud’s explanation of the uncanny it can argued that Clare’s return to Irene’s life provokes the uncanny feeling because of the return of a repressed memory of a conflict between the two of them.

Works Cited

Larsen, Nella. Passing. New York: Penguin, 2003.

Freud, Sigmund. “The Uncanny.” English 2RW6 Course Pack. Dr. Amber Dean. Pg. 249-269.